U.S. Killing of Afghans Won't Change US War Plan

Published March 12th, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon's chief spokesman says the basic war strategy in Afghanistan will not change despite the mass killing of Afghan civilians, allegedly by an American soldier. Spokesman George Little called the killings a deplorable but "isolated incident."

Little told reporters Monday there is "every indication" that the killings were perpetrated by a single individual "acting on his own." He would not identify the soldier or provide other information about his unit.

Little said he could offer no explanation for how or why the killings took place. He said the soldier now in custody had served three tours of duty in Iraq, and this was his first tour in Afghanistan.

Little said the killing has had "no demonstrable impact at this stage" on the relationship with the Afghan military.